The labour force participation rate is, for any group, the labour force expressed as a percentage of the civilian population aged 15 and over in the same group.

In June 2002, 64.9% of people aged 15 or over were either employed or actively looking for work. This increase on the participation rate of 60.4% in June 1985 resulted from an increasing participation rate by women.

LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, QUEENSLAND - Trend series

Source: Labour Force, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 6202.0)

Between June 1985 and June 2002, the percentage of working-age males in the labour force has shown a slight downward trend in Queensland. Varying between a high of 76.7% in December 1985 to the lowest point of 72.8% in December 2000, the male participation rate was 73.2% in June 2002.

The female participation rate has increased from 45.2% in June 1985 to 56.8% in June 2002.

In June 1985 and June 2002, the participation rate for males and females aged 15-19 was approximately 63%.

For both June 1985 and June 2002, males over 20 show a high participation rate in the labour force of around 90%, until the decline to 75% for the age-group 55-59 years.

Since 1985, female participation rates increased in most age-groups, particularly for the age-groups 45-54 (from 49% to 74%) and 55-59 years (from 24% to 51%), indicating a significant change in life-experience for women. In June 2002, the participation rate for women was highest in the 20-24 year age-group, at 76.3%, and higher than 70% for all age-groups until the 55-59 age group.

Only 10% of men and 3% of women aged 65 or more were participating in the labour force.